petite
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing a woman who is short and has a thin, delicate frame.
adj.referring to a woman of small stature and slim, well-proportioned build. Borrowed from French, it carries a generally positive or neutral connotation regarding physical appearance.
Simple“She was so petite that she had to stand on her toes to reach the top shelf.”
In context“Although she was petite in stature, her commanding voice and confident presence ensured she dominated every room she entered.”
PitfallHe is a very petite man. He is a very slight man.In modern English, 'petite' is almost exclusively used to describe women. For men, use 'slight' or 'small-framed'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.a size of clothing made for women who are shorter than average.
adj.denoting a standard clothing size designed to fit women of shorter-than-average height, typically 5 feet 4 inches (162 cm) or less.
Simple“I usually have to buy petite jeans because the regular ones are too long.”
In context“The retailer expanded its petite collection after realizing that a significant portion of their customer base struggled with standard trouser lengths.”
Synonymsshort lengthAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a type of yeast that grows in very small groups.
n.a mutant strain of yeast that forms smaller-than-normal colonies due to a defect in mitochondrial function.
Simple“The researcher identified a petite mutant in the yeast culture.”
In context“The presence of petite colonies indicated a respiratory deficiency in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae population being studied.”